Truck body



July 13 192e. 1,592,134 J. w. BROWN l 'rnucx scinti- Filed Oct. 20. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented July 13, 19.2%.

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Application iiecl October 20, 1924-.. Serial No. 744,669.

In this specification, and the accompanying drawing, l shall describeand' show a preferred tor-in ot my invention, and specilically mention certain ot its more important objects. I do not limit inyselic to the forms disclosed, since various changes and adaptations may be niade therein without departing 'from the essence of my invention as hereinafter claimed; and objects and advantages, other than those specifically mentioned, are included within its scope. `My invention relates to vehicle Vbodies adapted for transport-ing freight and merchandise, and amongl its principal objects are; first, to provide a truck body having sectional sides and ends that may he variably removed, or latched together to form a virtually continuous enclosure; second, to furnish facilities for swinging kcertain sectionsof the sides horizontally outward tor use as loading bridges, without removing them from thehody; and, third, to'make it possible to swing such side sections outwardly and downwardly to a vertical position, without removing them from the body.

Still further objects are: to provider unusually rigid attaching means for the reniovable side and end sections; and to accomplish the stated purposes by means ot very simple and relatively inexpensive construct-ion.

My objects have been attained in the manner illustrated in the Vaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational viewof a. truckbody of my improved construction;

Figure 2 is rear end elevation ot' the same;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the body with Yone of the rear enclosing sections removed;

Figures 4, 5, and 6, respectively are .enlargedcross sections in elevation ot a removable hingedside section in upright, horizontal and hanging positions;

Figure? is astill further enlarged crosssectional elevation of the hinged portion of `the swinging side sections, illustrating further details of the construction; and

FigureS is a side elevation of t-he construction shown in Fig. 7.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar' parts throughout the several views.

Before passing to a detailed description of the construction, attention is called to the -act that general utility trucks, such as my invention comprises, are obliged to handle a great variety of sizes and kinds of freight under diverse conditions. This makes it tral therein and becomes in-operative. 1When necessary to have the sides and rear end coinpletely removable, and it is also desirable to sectionalize tlie'sides and ends so that they may he partially removed. There are many times when it is impossible 'tort-he vehicle to closely approach a loading platform, and in such cases the ability to swing a side section horizontally outward for use as a loading` bridge is a great advantage. In other cases it is desirable to be able to swing a side section outwardly and let it depend vertically from the body without removal therefrom. l*l or all these purposes my construction is well adapted.

ln the embodiment ot my invention selected for illustrative purposes l have shown a platform 9 having a continuous steel band 10 around its edge, and three-sided metal boxes 11 spacedaround theY periphery to 75 constitute ii'our sided stake pockets in cooperation with the band. The walls 12 ot 'the boxes opposed the band are parallel thereto, and the other two walls 13 converge downwardly. Rigid side and end sections, such as 14 and 15 respectively, are provid-ed with continuous solid stakes 16. Swinging side sections 17 are provided with hinged stakes 18. vAll stakes, both solid and hinged, have their lower ends tapered to lit the stake pockets.

The hinged stakes comprise an upper and lower portion having specially shaped opposed metal ends 19, into which the stake portions are socketed and Jfastened by rivets 20. The metal ends are spaced by an amount approximately equal to the thickness of band 10, and are joined by a thick link 21 that is tree to turn upon rivet pins 22. This construction is shown most clearly in Figs. 7 and 8. The proportions and dimensions ot the co-operating parts are such that, when the hinged stakes are in place in their pockets, the hinged oint is about censlightly raised the stakes may be swung outwardly and permit the side sections to assume either of the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In either of these positions the* link 21 rests upon band 10 and supports the outwardly swung side section. ln Fig. 5 the section is used as a loading bridge with one end supported in the manner just described, and the other end resting upon a loading platform 23. l

I prefer to constraint my bodies with a gata 2l at each side of drvers cab 2.5, per- Cil mits ol loading long merchandise, such as pipe or lumber, when the corresponding rear section is removed as shown in Fig. 3. I also prefer to provide suitable latches 26 whereby all ot the side and end sections may be connected together near the top. A panel 2T may be utilized for display purposes.

A further important 'feature or my invention is the use ol a longitudinal member, as the angle iron QS; for resisting` the lateral thrust of the lower ends ot' the solid stakes. 'lhis angle iron is attached beneath the outer ends of cross sills Q9, shown most clearly in Figs. l and f2. lts use greatly increases the purchase of the stakes and minimizes the etl'ect ot wear ot the stakes in the sockets. ln the case ot' t'he hinged stakes the longi- `tudinal member is of no utility and socketwear of the hinged stakes is reduced and minimized by the metal ends at the hinged joints.

Having thus fully described my invention, l claim:

l. A truck body cimiprisingv removable with downwardl \v extending stakes having low-er portions pivotally connected to the upper port-ions henea'h the lowermost edge ot' the side boards; said body having stake pockets adapted to embrace the pivoted portions ot said stakes.

il truck body comprising removable side sections with downwardly extending stakes having lower portions limi-connected to the upper portions beneath the lowermost edge ot' the side boards; said body having stake pockets adapted to embrace the linkconnected portions ot' said stakes.

3. A truck body comprising removable side sections with downwardly extending stakes haring lower portions slightly spaced trom the upper portions and link-connected thereto beneath the lowermost edge ot the side boards; said body having stake pockets adapted to embrace the link-connected portion ol said stakes.

Ll. A truck body comprising removable side seetions with downwardly extending stakes Ihaving lower portions slightly spaced from the upper portions and link-connected thereto beneath the lowern'iostedge oit the side boards; said body having stake pockets at the edge ot its deck adapted to embrace the link-connected portion of said stakes; and said linksconnections being adapted to permit the side sections, a'lter being slightly raised, to swing outwardly and be supported b v said links resting upon the outer edges et said stake pockets.

truck body comprising removable side sections with downwardly extendingr stakes having lower portions slightly spaced vl'rom the upper portions and link-connected thereto beneath the lowermost edge ot` the side boards; said body having stake poel-:ets at the edge of its de fk adapted to embrace the link-connected portions of .said stakes; and said linlpcminections being adapted to permit the side sections, atter being slightly raised without removing the lower portionsl ot the stakes from the stake pockets. to swing outwardly and downnardlj,v to a rertieal position and be. supported by said links iesting upon the out-er edges ot said stake pockets.

6. it truck body comprising; a platform with a metal edge and downwardly tapered stake pockets adjacenty thereto: and removable taper-staked side sections having spaced extremities at the lower ends ot the stakes, link-connected thereto; said st: kes beingr adapted ior being normally held upright in said pockets and tor being swung outwardly when slightly raised from normal position to an inverted position depending ltrom said edge with said link supported thereby.

JAMES lVESLEY BROYVX titl 

